Abnormal Steering/Wandering
 

1993 Jeep Cherokee, 291k

The steering had excessive play when I first got it. Tightened the gear box about an 1/8 of a turn and it didn't help. So then I basically threw parts on it mainly because the high mileage.
Tie rod ends, Steering damper, Track Bar, Control Arms, etc. (Parts listed below)
All of this to no avail. Set my toe in about an 1/8th of an inch and still wanted to dart all over the road. As far as I know there is no caster adjustment for the stock control arms.The only part that hasn't been replaced are the upper and lower ball joints BUT I do have them and are planning to put them on tomorrow, along with the new axle shaft u-joints. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to drop in the comments below. Thank you and I appreciate any help!

Napa NCP 2607001 Track Bar

I'd look at the control arm bushings especially the axle side for the upper. That will be fun

Every bushing control arm bushing was replaced. My dad has a lift so it wasn't too difficult. Just took an air chisel to it.

If you haven't done it yet, take it to a good tire shop, have them check the alignment. I was in the same boat as you, I thought I had toe in, but I was toe out. I was darting around too. I think my old tires also were getting warped. Once I got new tires, had the toe fixed, I am pretty good now. If I go down the highway on a straight stretch, I can let go of the wheel and the Jeep will keep going straight. Before, it would put right, because the toe was out, and with the steering wheel straight, the passenger side wheel was sticking out, so it would go that way.

How much lift and what is your castor angle?

Caster is adjustable. There are shims behind the lower control arm mounts. You have to loosen the bolt through the bushing and the two bolts toward the rear that hold the moveable bracket. Oddly, the FSM says +6.5 degrees for a manual, and +8 degrees for an auto - not sure why they'd be different.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...9bcaaedc1f.jpg

* check your overall alignment and toe in with simple straight edges and tape measure

* check your steering box for play, damage to mounting area etc

* If your vehicle is lifted high, is a bump steer affecting it ?

One unusual thing to check is the pitman arm. For some unknown reason the splines on my 2000 WJ arm were worn out causing looseness in the steering! We replaced the steering box several years ago and used the old arm. My mechanic, on a whim, loosened the pitman arm mounting bolt and the arm dropped down by itself! It was not tight on the splines at all! Expensive part, but it cured my death wobble!

So I replaced my front U-Joints and Ball Joints and it still wants to dart all over the road. I’m going to buy the shims but how would I measure caster angle to ensure its to spec. Also what could cause the caster to be out of spec?

Save headaches and take it to an alignment shop. They will tell you what's wrong with it, then you either have them fix it or fix it yourself, then take it back and get the alignment checked.

Like Dave says, take it to an alignment shop. Just make sure you get a good tech to work on it. I had my alignment checked last summer by one of the big chain stores, and they gave the work to a young kid. He was struggling with toe adjustment and getting the steering wheel straight. That is pretty basic, if you ask me. I understand new techs need to learn on the job but it doesn't do much to fix an issue. Anyway, I got a recommendation from my neighbor on a good, local tire shop and they did the alignment again just recently. I could tell right away they knew what they were doing. The tech even picked up on the somewhat noisy growling from the rear differential (that's another story).

So I took it to the alignment shop and they think the gearbox is going out. Car has +291k so I don't doubt it, Imma go to the junkyard in search of a lower mileage gear box and will report back. Preciate it fellas